Apparatus for aging whisky



y 1942- G. w. DANT 2,289,245

APPARATUS FOR AGING WHISKY Filed July 8. 1940 George -W\Dan b,

Patented July 7, 1942 1 UNHTED STATS ea'rear OFFICE APPARATUS FOR AGING WHISKY George W. Dant, Dant, Ky.

Application July 8, 1940, Serial N 0. 344,419

4 Claims.

The present invention consists of a method and apparatus for aging whisky and includes a novel method of mounting the apparatus in a package or barrel.

It is, of course, well-known in the art to mount racks or the like, composed of charred wood, in a package or barrel in a manner to expose the surface areas thereof for impingement by liquor agitated in the barrel by rolling or otherwise. The present invention has to do with the assemblage of these racks in and removal of the racks from the barrels expeditiously, the racks being of a construction which positively prevents their displacement or collapse while in use.

My invention also contemplates a collapsible rack which, after installation, automatically spreads or dilates into snug engagement with the inner periphery of the barrel yet may be flexed with facility when removal is desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible rack made solely of wood with a complete absence of extraneous fastening means;

. to provide a rack which includes split bands,

the latter automatically flexing into engagement with the barrel or other receptacle, the bands being held from relative outward movement by the barrel heads and from relative inward movement by charred stays; and to provide whisky aging elements which span the distance between the bands and are engaged therewith without the aid of fastening means.

In addition to the above, other objects will be manifest to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a barrel equipped with a rack constructed in accord-.

ance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 on Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating to advantage the manner of mounting the rack in the barrel.

Fig. 3 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing to advantage the manner of associating one of the rack stays with one of the expansible rings or bands of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary top plan view of a ring or band constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the stays of the present invention. In order to illustrate the application of the invention, I have in the drawing shown a package or container 6 which consists of a whisky barrel of conventional form, including heads I. It is, of course, to be understood that the barrel may be of any size or shape, the interior thereof preferably being charred in a manner well known in the art.

The rack of the present invention preferably employs a pair of split bands or rings 8 which are notched, as indicated at 9, the notches being adapted for the reception of fins or laths Ill. The ends of the fins are mounted in the notches 9 of the rings or bands 8 and are held from longitudinal displacement inwardly on the fins by stays H. The stays are placed at intervals around the bands or rings as shown to advantage in Fig. 2. Outward displacement of the rings or hands is prevented by the heads 1, as is apparent from Fig. 1 of the drawing.

As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 6, each of the stays II is provided with lugs l2 formed by extending each end of the stay, the lugs being adapted for engagement in any one of the notches 9 of the bands or rings 8 at the option of the user. Preferably the cross sectional dimension of each stay I l, at a point from the outer vertical face of each lug to the outer vertical edge of the stay, is appreciably in excess of the cross sectional dimension of each ring or band 8 from the inner wall of each notch 9 to the inner surface of the ring or band. Consequently, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3, the outer periphery of each ring or band is normally spaced from the inner periphery of the barrel. Upon immersion, the tendency of each split band to straighten, urges its outer periphery into engagement with the inner periphery of the barrel thereby securing the laths from displacement regardless of the intensity or the degree of movement of the barrel.

It is apparent from the above that the fins or laths are automatically secured to the bands or rings 8 as well as to the barrel without the aid of any fastening means. By notching the bent wood rings or bands 8, the laths I0 and stays H are held in pre-determined spaced positions longitudinal of the package straight across the bilge of the latter. Free circulation of liquor around the laths, stays, and bands is assured by this construction and a maximum surface area of charred wood is constantly exposed for impingement with the liquor. In effect, re-lining of the package is accomplished, yet practically the entire inner periphery of the barrel, as well as the inner faces of the barrel heads, are available for engagement with the liquor. Furtherq more, when it is desired to dissemble the rack, it is only necessary to contract one of the bands or rings pursuant to removal of one of the barrel heads.

I am, of course, aware that various changes may be made in this device within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a receptacle, means to age whisky in the receptacle comprising a rack which includes a pair of spaced split bands with laths spanning the distance therebetween and engaged thereto.

2. In combination with a receptacle, means to age whisky in the receptacle comprising a rack which includes a pair of spaced split bands with laths spanning the distance therebetween and engaged thereto, and stays arranged at intervals between said bands to prevent relative inward movement of the bands on the laths.

3. An aging media for a whisky container consisting of bent wood members each of which has notches formed therein, elongated wooden strips mounted in the notches of said members, the latter being held in close proximity to the inner periphery of said container by said bent wood members.

4. Apparatus for aging whisky consisting of a container, expansible bands mounted in the container, and stays mounted in the container and engaged with said bands to hold the latter in close proximity to the ends of the container, said stays also preventing relative inward movement of the bands, said bands and stays being composed of whisky aging media.

GEORGE W. DANT. 

